Laura Mae Crockett Sadler, 87, of Mathews, Va., passed away on April 21, 2013, surrounded by loving family and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George Lewis and Annie Mae Crockett; her beloved brothers, Al and Lewis Crockett, and her sister-in-law, Shirley Crockett.

She was born in a little schoolhouse in Waterview, Middlesex County, Va., on March 31, 1926 to Annie Mae and Gilbert Lewis Crockett. They moved to North Carolina when she was 10 years old. She finished Griggs High School in Currituck Co., N.C., in three years maintaining a B+ average. She won a full scholarship to attend North Carolina State Teacher’s College. She instead went to work at the Naval Base in Norfolk and attended Kee’s Business College. She went to all the USO dances. She was an avid dancer, who said most of her partners had two left feet.

She got married in New Orleans, La., in 1948 to Harry Mullis, her prince charming. They had three children, Eddie, Debbie and Billy. During this time they lived in New Orleans, La., St. Louis, Mo., Davenport, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minn., Palo Alto, Cal., Austin, Texas, and Tulsa, Okla. During these 13 years she became an avid bridge player. In Austin, Texas, she took flying lessons at an aviation school and got her pilot’s license. Harry was in the ladies’ shoe business and was the buyer for Macy’s Department Stores.

In 1966, she came home to Gwynn’s Island to live with her mother, Annie Mae Crockett who played a big part in raising her children. Laura Mae worked at Fort Eustis for 32 years and retired in May 1988. She was a government computer specialist.

She was a member of the Moose, Gwynn’s Island Civic League, Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church and a lady Shriner. She loved going to Curves with her sister-in-law, Barbara Crockett.

From 1960 until 2005, she had many great times on motorcycle trips with her four brothers and sister-in-law, Barbara. She was usually a riding partner with her brother, Lewis Crockett. She had some great travel experiences, including trips to England, France, Greece, Hawaii, Cancun, Bahamas, Canada, Nova Scotia, all of the Caribbean Islands, and all of the United States (except three states). She enjoyed years of family vacations on the Outer Banks with her family, especially her daughter, Debbie, and granddaughters, Amy and Ashley, where she spent many days on the beach. She loved to tell stories of working and living at the Whalehead Club in Corolla, N.C., and her secret best friend was the famous boxer, Jack Dempsey, who came to Corolla for hunting frequently. Her family maintains a home in Kill Devil Hills today. She was quite a public speaker and was known to take the floor at family functions.

She married James Allen Key in 1975. He passed away in 1993. She married George Freeman Sadler in December of 1995. He passed away on July 4, 2008.

She was an amazing woman who had an impact on every single person that was privileged to meet her. She enriched the lives of every one of all that knew her, and was an example for all of us. She will be greatly missed by family and friends and memories of her will be cherished forever.

Laura Mae was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She is survived by her children, Ed Mullis and his wife Lisa of Newport News, Va., Debbie Martin and her husband Bob of Yorktown, Va., and Bill Mullis and his wife Kendra of Gloucester, Va.; her brother, David Crockett and wife Faye of Mathews, Va.; her sister-in-law, Kitty Crockett of Hampton, Va.; her brother, Morris Crockett and his wife Barbara of Mathews, Va.; her grandchildren, Amy Michelle Hall and her husband James Lee Hall, Ryan Dunkle and his wife Ritsa Dunkle, Ashley Gail Mullis and her fiancé Ryan Waddell, and Adam and Anna O’Kelley; her great-grandchildren, Dustyn, Zackary and Arabella Hall, and Vasili Dunkle, as well as nieces and nephews, Alvin and Davey Crockett, Sabrina Arrington, Debbie Rogers, David Crockett, Darrell Crockett, Walt Crockett, Lisa Mayer, and Dana Strigle and her special friend and “yardwork partner,” David Gray.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 25, 2013, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church, Gwynn, Va. Funeral services will be held in the church on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 2 p.m. with interment in Gwynn’s Island Cemetery, Grimstead.

Memorial donations may be made to Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church, P.O. Box 26, Gwynn, Va. 23066 or Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 723, Mathews, Va. 23109.

Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, is in charge of arrangements.